When the integration process starts, we need to establish the hosting party. While DotActiv can host and will provide a secure platform for your data, there are some key differences that need to be kept in mind when making this decision.
DotActiv Hosting
If DotActiv hosts, DotActiv’s SQL server will host the database for the clients’ environment. The client will send the data to import into the database on a set frequency. DotActiv has it automated on our side based on the clients set up, and it can take time to send through to our systems. DotActiv accepts a few import processes that are standard – anything outside of our standard will have an additional cost, and will take a bit longer to get everything imported.
Benefits Of DotActiv Hosting
When hosting with DotActiv, we will take on all hosting and resource implications and ensure that the DotActiv environment runs efficiently. All security matters are organized and enforced from our side and are easily accessible to our IT support team whenever the client requires technical assistance.
Security Protocols Of DotActiv Hosting
While DotActiv will create a secure environment, we cannot match all individual standards and have a universal standard that accommodates everyone hosting on our platform. DotActiv has multiple environments on our server and understands that this might not adhere to some security protocols for specific clients. However, we implement strong credentials and regularly change them, limit access to the servers and databases, perform weekly security checks, weekly backups and maintenance, and ensure that we use secure application connections when connecting to the server and the specific database from the DotActiv software.
Client Hosting
When the client hosts, DotActiv IT will need to be able to remote into the server to create the DotActiv database in the Clients SQL server and install the import utilities. From there, the client is responsible for ensuring that everything gets imported into the server/database correctly and as regularly as agreed in the scoping session, that they monitor all server resources from their side, and that security is in order.
Benefits Of Client Hosting
When the client hosts, there are no additional costs on the contract for hosting. The client creates the VPNS/Security measures for the users to ensure secure connections that match the company’s protocols. The client also has complete visibility to the resources and use of resources on the database.
Security Protocols Of Client Hosting
The client can have a VPN that hosts the server, decide who has access to credentials to log into the VPN, and enforce a 2FA for the VPN. RDP logins, SQL logins, and any connections can be monitored and logged from the clients perspective. The data would also never have to leave the environment and stays on the client’s servers.
Comparison: DotActiv Hosting And Client Hosting
| DotActiv | Client | |
| Security | While DotActiv will create a secure environment, we cannot match all individual standards and have a universal standard that accommodates everyone hosting on our platform. | As a client running your own SQL server, you can decide on the regulations for your environment. For example, you can implement a VPN, SQL login restrictions, and other firewall restrictions as you see fit. |
| Resources | DotActiv will always ensure that we manage the resources correctly and that each environment will have the necessary spec available in order to function. | The client must ensure that they implement the basic server specs for the environment and that if their server holds a large amount of data/history, they provide additional resources where necessary. |
| Sharing | DotActiv hosts multiple clients on one server. We enforce confidentiality, and no environment has access to a different environment, but this needs to be kept in mind when determining who will host. | The client can decide if the DotActiv database is hosted on its own server or a shared server. IT will never request access to other databases that are not our own unless requested by the client. We only need to be able to create our database and view them/edit them. |
| Monitoring | DotActiv will perform routine checks on the environment, but we rely on production/operations to raise an issue. | The client has full accessibility to perform in depth monitoring of resources and any issues/server tasks and can relay any worries or information back to DotActiv where they see fit for us to help where we can. |